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.(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen; 1,

G; BETT1N1. PHONOGRAPH.

No. 488.879. Patented Dee, 20,1892.

888m www J e /MZWL 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

G. BE'TTINI. PHONOGRAPH.

Patented Dee. 20,1892.

"Immun" THE mams PETERS cu.. Pnnouwo, wAsHmGwN, n. c.

euren 'Smarts Partnr @ritieni GIANNI BETTINI, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PHONOG'RAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,379, dated December20, 18,92.

Application filed January 27, 1892. Serial No. 419.409. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIANNI BETTINI, a subject of the King of Italy, anda resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and ApparatusMy invention is directed particularly to imf provements in novel methodsof and means for automatically regulating the position of a phonographicdiaphragm with relation to` the recording or reproducing cylinder insuch manner as to obtain from such apparatus a more perfect record and abetter reproduction thereof, than is now obtainable with any existingapparatus of a kindred nature known to me.

It is a well known fact that in the use of the phonograph the recordcylinders are often of irregular surface before the record is pro` ducedthereon; or, even if the surfaces have the desired conformation at-thetime of producing the record, .the cylinders often warp or change theirconfiguration from changes in temperature, careless handling, or,various other reasons It is also a fact that with existing forms ofphonographic apparatus during the production of the record there resultsoften times a production of a false record due to extraneous soundsacting upon the under surface of the diaphragm at the same time that theoperating sounds are entering the apparatus through the ,proper channelon the upper side thereof.

My invention has for its object the avoidance of these objectionablefeatures, and to this end it consists- First-In a novel method of andmeans for supporting the diaphragm whereby it may aldiaphragm from theevil effects of extraneous sounds-Third-In details of constructionhereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims at theend'of this specification.

Referring now'to the drawings in all of which like letters of referencerepresent like parts wherever used-Figure l is a side elevational Viewillustrating my improvement- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same-and Fig.3 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

C represent-s a phonogram cylinder supported in the usual manner upon arotary axis (A).

`B B represent parts of the frame, which i carry adj ustably thediaphragm supporting arin (E 5) said arm being enlarged in the usualmanner at its lower end and provided with a slot at its upper end forsecuring it adjustably in position through the agency of a thumb nut (T)the lower portion of the supporting arm being provided with a fork (K)in which is secured the adjusting screw (I) threaded into a lugor arm(Q) which in turn is ixedly securedto the part (B).

D represents the diaphragm made preferably of metal having attached toits lower side a stylus, or recording, or reproducing point (s) the samebeing secured to the diaphragm by the agency of aspider (S)substantially as described in a prior patent No. 409,004. granted to lneon the 13th day of August, 1889. in a supporting ring (N) and securelyheld in place by a washer (0) and a soundconcen This diaphragm issecured in position v trator (G) by a ring nut (H). als

F is a cross bar adj ustably secured to supporting arm (E) by a pair ofscrew rods (t t) and thumb nuts (n n n n.) At the center of this crossbar is secured a mouth piece (M) the lower end of which projectsdownward into the upper or extended portion of a sound concentrator (G)so as to convey all of the sound which enters the mouth piece (M) to thesurface of the diaphragm. The lower end or throat portion of the `mouthpiece (M) is sufficiently diminished in size to permit of the necessaryvibratory movement which may be given to the surrounding' soundconcentrating portion (G) as the diaphragm tilts back and forth upon itspivotal supports,

screw threaded end of an arm (m) carried at the lower edge of thediaphragm ring (N). J is a protector or shield made preferably ofnon-resonant material for shielding the lower side of the diaphragm fromthe effects of any extraneous sound. This shield (J) is preferably ofconical shape, as shown, being secu red to the diaphragm ring (N) byscrews (w w) and provided at its apex with aniopening (V) of sufcientsize to permit of the free movel ment of the stylus (s).

The operation of the apparatus is as followsz--The diaphragm having beenproperly adjusted as to the delicacy of its pivot-al or jrocking motionby the screws (P P) (e e) and through the agency of the adjustableweight (W) with the recording stylus (s) in the position shown in Fig.1, the apparatus is ready to make or reproduce a record. It will benoticed, as shown in Fig. 1, that the record producing or reproducingstylus (s) does not bear normally upon the phonogram cylinder (C) andthat inasmuch as the diaphragm is pivotally supported and is acted uponby the Weight (W) which tends to move the stylus forward in a reversedirection to that of the phonogram cylinder, it will therefore beapparent that if any inequality occurs in the surface of the cylinderthis adjustment will compensate for it by causing the recording orreproducing stylus to assume dierent angular positions with relation tothe axis of the cylinder and to operate at all times with the besteffect and to make a clear and well defined record. The diaphragm D andits supporting ring N secured in the arm or support E will therefore begiven a rocking motion by the stylus s as it follows the irregularitiesof the surface or record of the phonogram cylinder C which rotates inthe direction of the arrow (see Fig. l) and inasmuch as the majorportion of the weight of these parts is thus supported free of thecylinder or surface delicate adjustment is effected by the weight W, andthe stylus will follow the surface or record giving always anapproximately uniform pressure, thereby assuring either a perfect recordor a perfect reproduction thereof. It will be noticed also that byvirtue of the adjustable mouth piece (M) and the sound concentrator (G)I am enabled to obtain a maximum effect upon the upper surface of thediaphragm and to transmit through this diaphragm and its spider'sustained recording stylus, all of the sound waves. It is also apparentthat there can be no material effect produced upon the under side of thediaphragm from any extraneous sounds, because of the protector or shield(J). The lateral and vertical adjustments of the diaphragm with relationto the phonogram cylinder are effected through the agency of the thumbnut (T) the thumb screw (I) yoke (K) and support or lug (Q).

It will of course be understood that all of the im provements hereindescribed are equally applicable to either the recorder or reproducer ofa phonograph at will.

I am aware that attempts have heretofore been made to overcome thedefects due to irregularities in phonogram cylinders by various means-asfor instancez-By pivoting the recording or reproducing stylus to thediaphragm and regulating the throw or movement of such pivoted stylus bya weight or analogous device, and I do not claim broadly means foraccomplishing this result.`

I am also aware that it is old in the art to pivotally sustain arecording or reproducing diaphragm so that the weight of the entirediaphragm and its supporting ring or frame iS sustained by the stylusresting upon the phonogram surface, and I make no claim hereinafterbroad enough to include such a structure. I am not aware, however, thatany one has heretofore pivoted the diaphragm proper in a sustainingframe over the phonogram cylinder or surface so that the weight Q of thediaphragm and its attached parts is sustained independent of thephonogram surface and in such manner that irregularities of said surfacecause the diaphragm to turn about its points of support and the point ofthe stylus to assume different angular positions with relation to theaxis or the phonogram cylinder, and my claims are generic in thisparticular.

I am aware also that it is old in the art to convey the sound waves toan inclosed chamber located beneath the diaphragm, the said diaphragmhaving its upper surface entirely inclosed or protected from extraneoussounds, the recording or reproducing stylus extending 'through aperforation in the lower chamber and being provided with link and leverconnections, as shown and described in patent to J. H. White No.467,530, granted January 26, 1892, and I make no claim upon this featureof my invention broad enough to include such a structure. With such astructure as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings of the aforesaidpatent air is confined in the chamber above the diaphragm without anymeans of escape acting therefore as a cushion, while in the structuredescribed and claimed by me the chamber above the diaphragm is used toreceive the sound waves without any vent or escape, the lower orprotecting shield being provided with a perforation through which thestylus passes, thereby permitting the escape of the air and avoiding theevil effects of an air cushion. It is also to be understood thatalthough I have shown IOO IIO

IZO

and described a phonogram cylinder of the usual type in connection Withmy improvements I may use a phonogram surface of any preferred form, theapplication of the novel principles hereinbefore described andhereinafter claimed being equally as Well adapted to such surfaces as tocylinders.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent of the United States iszl. The described method ofcompensating for the effects of irregularities in a phonograrn cylinderor surface consisting in supporting the Weight of the diaphragm and itsattached parts free of the cylinder or surface and simul taneouslygiving to it a rocking motion as the cylinder or surface moves oradvances, whereby the recording or reproducing stylus is caused toassume different angular positions.

2. The described method of compensating for irregularities of aphonogram cylinder consisting in supporting the weight of the diaphragmand its attached parts free of the cylinder or surface andsimultaneously varying the angular relation of the stylus to the axis ofthe cylinder, said stylus being rigidly secured to the diaphragm.

3. The described method of compensating for irregularities in thesurface of a phonogram cylinder consisting in giving to a rigidlysupported stylus a vibrating motion in the direction of the cylindersrotation and about a fixed or axial line of support in a planesubstantially parallel With the axis of the cylinder.

4. A stylus carried by a diaphragm pivotally secured to a support andprovided with adjustable means as a Weight for causing the stylus tovary its angular relation so as to conform to the phonogram Surface,substantially as described.

5. A phonograph having a diaphragm provided With a sound receivingchamber on one side with an inlet thereto for the sound Waves incombination with a protecting shield on the other side which covers theentire surface of the diaphragm and hasa perforation through which therecording or reproducing stylus extends substantially as described.

6. A phonograph provided VWith a sound protector or shield which coversthe entire face of the diaphragm and has an opening through which therecording stylus projects, substantially as described.

7. A phonograph having a pivoted diaphragm with a sound concentratingchamber on one side and a sound protector or shield on the other throughwhich the stylus projects substantially as described.

GIANNI BETTINI.

Witnesses:

C. J. KINTNER, F. GRIEssMAN.

